Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Sporting KC Waive Four

photo courtesy Jarred Donalson

Sporting KC made 4 more roster moves today, waiving four players before today's waiver draft. KC waived Jeferson, Craig Rocastle, Milos Stojcev, and Scott Lorenz. Jeferson Rocastle, and Stojcev all three take up international spots that are now open to be used next year. Those 3 also are the only 3 that count against the salary cap, Lorenz was an off budget player making around $32,000. Those 3 though make about $550,000 against the cap (Jeferson $350,000, Rocastle $110,000, Stojcev $90,000). It certainly gives Kansas City some cap space to work with this offseason to sign potential players. In today's waiver draft none of the four were selected, in fact, only 1 player, Nizar Khalfan of Vancouver, was selected today in the draft by Philadelphia (he's best known to KC fans as the guy that had two assists in the 3-3 draw with the Whitecaps this year).

Jeferson played in 9 games, starting 8 of them since arriving in the summer. He looked really impressive in the first few games, specifically against Newcastle and then Toronto in league play. His pass to Omar Bravo for his first goal was what we expected to see plenty of throughout the season. Unfortunately that was the only instance of that we got from the Brazilian DP. This move was not at all surprising, in fact was really expected by most.

Rocastle appeared in 29 games over his two seasons with the team, but only 6 times this year after suffering an injury during the Gold Cup with Grenada. That combined with the emergence of Julio Cesar and Roger Espinoza in the midfield left Rocastle on the outside looking in. In 2010 though, Rocastle played in 23 games and helped to settle the midfield with Stephane Auvray and looked set to contribute a lot to KC this year. In the end though he had a skill set similar to Cesar and as a whole Cesar was just the better player.

Stojcev came in and started 6 of the first 7 games for KC, but appeared only sparingly the rest of the way. His last appearance for KC in a real game was in August against Portland. He did had 2 assists in league play, both in the draw with Vancouver, and a goal in KC's 3-0 win over the Chicago Fire PDL in the Open Cup. Unfortunately though Stojcev proved to be incredibly one footed. And not good enough to bring back visions of Preki.

Lorenz made one league appearance for Sporting KC, starting the team's 3-2 loss in Chicago in the second game of the season. He did appear in both of KC's Open Cup games this year as well, starting both of them. Lorenz, who was signed this offseason after spending the previous season with Minnesota. Lorenz returned to Minnesota during the season on loan, appeared in a number of Minnesota's games before returning back early from his loan.

At this point Jeferson is on his way back to Vasco where he will likely be loaned out again, or sold to another Brazilian club. Rocastle I expect to go back to England, possibly catching on with a League 2 side over there. Stojcev I expect will find his way back to Serbia or another Eastern European country to play. Lorenz can probably make it in the NASL or USL-Pro if he can't catch on with another MLS club. Good luck to each of them.